Following yesterday’s teaser for the exterior, Mercedes today releases the first official images of the new C-Class W205 model. The car is apparently set for debut at the 2014 Detroit Motor Show, but the web community will definitely get to see the car long before that.

The German car maker makes no secret of the fact that the 2014 Mercedes C-Class is heavily inspired in its design by the new generation Mercedes S-Class. But they are adamant it also has its own unique character. This fact is plain to see inside the cabin.

While the new C-Class does inherit some of the design cues of the S-Class, like the circular air vents or the central command unit, the design of the dash, the instruments, and the steering wheel is all exclusive to the mid-size car.

Another area where the little C benefits from the big S is in terms of features and equipment. It gets the unique air condition system and the latest connectivity and navigation technologies. The trimming also appears to be a head and shoulders above the norm of this class.

Despite all this, the 2014 Mercedes C-Class is said to be 100 kg lighter than its predecessor. That not only makes it more fuel efficient, it also results in better handling and livelier performance; stuff it needs to finally beat the BMW 3 Series in its own game.